'Hello, Gran. How are you feeling this morning?'

Cindy put a mug of tea down on her grandmother's bedside table.

'Here's your tea. You'd better drink it while it's still hot.'

'I'm not feeling too good today.'

'Oh, why's that then?'

'I'm thinking too much.'

'What are you thinking about, Gran?'

'My feet.'

'Your feet?'

'Yes, my feet. They make me think. And I keep forgetting things. But my blood's better now, so they say.'

'Who says, Gran?'

'Oh, you know, that nice young doctor.'

Cindy gave up trying to guess who her grandmother was talking about. Maybe this doctor was someone left over from a dream?

'Well, that's good anyway, the blood I mean,' said Cindy as she smoothed the bed sheets.

'But there's a lot of things I want to do, but I can't.'

There was a pause.

'I don't know where the pots and pans are, that's the trouble.'

'I expect they're in the kitchen where they belong,' said Cindy.

'What kitchen?' asked her grandmother. 'I don't remember any kitchen. Where is it?'

'It's downstairs, of course,' said Cindy.

'Whose house is this anyway? I don't think I've been here before.'

'It's your house, Gran. It's where you've lived for the past forty years.'

'Oh, is it?' she asked and drank her tea.

Cindy suddenly started to giggle uncontrollably.

'Oh, Gran, sometimes you're really funny, you know.'

'Well, at least I make you laugh. It's better than crying. I can tell you that.'

Then, all at once, she put her mug of tea back on the table, and knocked it over. Sarah was obviously in pain.

'Gran, are you OK?'

'No.'

'Is there any pain?'

'No. It's just the didgery.' She moved uncomfortably on the pillows.

But Cindy couldn't stop giggling again at the 'didgery'. She'd never heard the word before, and it sounded so funny, in spite of the situation her gran was in. The 'didgery'. Her gran had just added a new and original word to the English language.

'Here, Gran, let me lift you up a bit. You'll be more comfortable.'

'Ow! Don't you hurt me! Who are you anyway? Where's that nice taxi lady?'

'It's OK, Gran. Just rest for a minute. I'll get your pills for you. Just lie back and relax.'

Sarah lay back, obviously more comfortable. As Cindy left the room, she went back to sleep. When Cindy returned with the pills she was already fast asleep, snoring loudly with her mouth wide open, her hands moving nervously on the sheets as if she was trying to find something. Then, quite suddenly, she sat up, opened her eyes, and asked, 'Is this where we all get off?'